The Belgian government, together with other EU countries, has declared
Iran a "safe country", by which they mean that no-one is in danger of
state repression there. This is clearly a manoeuvre. Iran remains one
of the most dangerous countries for anyone struggling for genuine human
rights, and particularly workers' rights. Support the 250 asylum
seekers! European countries are stepping up their war against asylum seekers
with plans to establish a new list of so-called “safe countries”. While
they call this policy new, it is in fact a continuation of old policies
that have been implemented gradually to further criminalize and isolate
the asylum seekers and to all intents and purposes do away with the
right to asylum which had lost its usefulness after the end of the Cold
War. They needed it then to show they were pro-human rights in relation
to the Eastern Bloc. Now, in order to justify their policies, they play
on people's real concerns about the rise of the far right in European
countries. Thus the asylum seekers are being scape-goated for the EU’s
right wing and failed policies.

Many asylum seekers are fleeing Iran. This country has been one of the
major sources of refugee outflow over the past two decades. In the
past, many were granted asylum. Today, however, asylum seekers
including Iranian asylum seekers are being defined as “illegal
migrants”, "bogus" or "economic immigrants". In spite of what they may
say, the conditions in Iran have not changed. If anything they have
actually worsened. The Islamic Republic of Iran under the rule of
fundamentalism has become the capital of the world for executions,
torture and stoning to death. And yet the rate of recognition of
Iranian asylum seekers has fallen dramatically. One of the main reasons
for this is that the European countries have been expanding their
economic and political relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran
which in spite of it being one of the most notorious and repressive
regimes in the world.

Expanding economic relations with Iran has an impact on Iranians both
inside the country and in exile. The working class in Iran is already
suffering from the effects of privatisation and corruption. Expanding
economic relations with this corrupt system only serves to exacerbate
the conditions for the working class in Iran. Iranians in exile are now
suffering from this policy because it means they are refused the status
of political asylum.

The latest scandalous decision by the EU on asylum seekers was taken on
November 6. It means that in the future they will give the victims of
those who traffic clandestinely with immigrants temporary permission to
stay for 6 months. However this is to be conditional. It will be based
on the co-operation of the asylum seekers who will have to provide
information on, and help the police and security forces capture
smugglers. And this will also determine who they will recognise as
victims of smugglers!

One of the EU countries which has strong economic and political ties
with the Islamic Republic of Iran is Belgium. The degree to which the
Belgian government has ties with the Islamic regime of Iran can be seen
clearly in its high number of refusals for Iranian asylum claims.

The Belgian government is negotiating with the Iranian authorities the
deportation of Iranian asylum seekers whose asylum claim has been
refused. The general situation in Iran is proof enough of the fact that
these asylum seekers would suffer persecution upon their return.

On September 19, 17 Iranians left the Petit Chateau detention centre in
Brussels for the ULB (University of Brussels) after receiving orders to
leave the country. Dozens of their compatriots, also hoping to be
granted political asylum in Belgium, joined them until some 250 were
camping out on the ULB campus. Of the protesters, 31 have been on
hunger strike for the past 20 days.

They need our support urgently. If this protest proves to be
successful, then it would be a defeat and a precdent for the other EU
countries in their anti asylum policies. In solidarity we can support
the protest of these 250 by sending faxes or calling the Belgian
Interior Minister or the Belgian Refugee Commission. You can also sign
a petition online to support those who are on strike.